{"id":8632,"date":"2014-09-04T09:40:21","date_gmt":"2014-09-04T09:40:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/wordpress72\/?p=25960"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:22:28","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:22:28","slug":"university-needs-autonomy-too-says-board-president","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2014\/09\/04\/university-needs-autonomy-too-says-board-president\/","title":{"rendered":"University needs autonomy too, says Board president"},"content":{"rendered":"

Openness, trust and responsibility were the key words used by all three speakers during the opening of the academic year on Monday 1 September. This official opening, which was attended by King Willem-Alexander, also marked the conclusion of the anniversary year.<\/p>\n

In her opening speech, Executive Board President Pauline van der Meer Mohr said that today\u2019s universities can no longer get away with the bromide \u2018just trust us, we know what we\u2019re doing\u2019. And rightly so, she added, although at the same time, universities are consequently trapped in the paradox that they are achieving better results all the time and can hold their own with the best the world has to offer, while having to be increasingly accountable and comply with quality standards at the same time. \u201cBut we also need autonomy, since this is a more productive way of attaining excellence than government control,\u201d Ms Van der Meer Mohr said.<\/p>\n

Dutch Paradox<\/strong><\/p>\n

Guest speaker Hans Clevers, president of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, also emphasised in his speech that the government\u2019s demand for research with immediate and tangible results will not result in innovation. \u201cAlthough a top-down approach is suitable for applied research, truly innovative changes cannot be achieved through improving existing products,\u201d Mr Clevers said. \u201cThe greatest innovations are the result of normal research carried out by creative and vigorous minds with a profound interest in humanity, nature and the world about us.\u201d<\/p>\n

And that is exactly what the Netherlands is good at. Although funding for research is diminishing rapidly, Dutch scientists\u2019 output is actually increasing. This is known internationally as the \u2018Dutch Paradox\u2019. According to Mr Clevers\u2019 analysis, Dutch people have an inquiring mind and they are not afraid to ask questions or enter into discussion with others.<\/p>\n

Mr Clevers then asked his listeners: \u201cWhy should we make cutbacks in something we\u2019re so much better at than almost every other country \u2013 something that\u2019s so deeply rooted in our DNA? Why can\u2019t we just admit frankly that science is one of our national talents? If it\u2019s about football, we\u2019re only too happy to say we\u2019re better than everyone else!\u201d<\/p>\n

Open culture<\/strong><\/p>\n

On this note, Rector Magnificus Huib Pols officially opened the academic year after calling on his fellow scholars to uphold the motto \u2018Strength from Openness\u2019. Scholars not only have to be autonomous professionals, they also have to be team players, Mr Pols added. \u201cWe do this by actively seeking out one another, and by giving one another criticism as well as support. As far as I\u2019m concerned, this open culture is crucial for ensuring progress.\u201d WG<\/p>\n\n\t

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